Must-Do #2 East Coast Drive

Tassie lays claim to some of the world’s best beaches and the Great Eastern Drive allows you to experience them all up close and personal. Forget the Great Ocean Road—this scenic 176km stretch of highway from St Helens to Orford is our pick for the ultimate Aussie coastal road trip.

East Coast Regional Tourism Organisation & Lisa Kuilenburg

With its gently undulating roads, temperate climate and gorgeous backdrop, the east coast is ideal for all kinds of transport—from cars and caravans, to bicycles and buses. Feel the wind in your hair and the freedom of the open road from the intimacy of a convertible, or load up your van with boards and beach gear and pile in for an unforgettable weekend getaway with your friends.

You really do experience the drive at your own pace—that’s one of the best parts. If a particular spot takes your fancy (it’ll happen—and more than once), by all means set up camp and stay a few days. To get you started, we’ve listed some suggestions below, with Orford as the starting point. But if you’re in the north of the state you can easily do the reverse and kick things off in St Helens.

Orford

Situated at the mouth of the Prosser River opposite stunning Maria Island, Orford is the perfect base for exploring the Maria National Park and its surrounding marine reserve. The town itself is worth spending some time in, offering plenty of beaches, bushwalks and great fishing and diving spots.

Tourism Tasmania & Rick Eaves

Triabunna

Another popular gateway to Maria Island, this scenic portside town is surrounded by lush eucalypt forests and pretty beaches. Triabunna also has a long history as Australia's first rural municipality, with many surviving colonial buildings. The town offers accommodation, shops, galleries and tearooms and the local marina is a great place to sample the succulent local scallops, mussels and abalone while taking in the view.

Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett

Maria Island

Sparkling like a jewel off Tasmania's eastern coast is its treasure isle, Maria Island. Here, nature has painted an exquisite landscape of aquamarine bays, sculpted cliffs and verdant mountains. Declared a national park in 1972, Maria Island is a sanctuary for fascinating wildlife. Home to several thrilling trails and bike paths, the island is also one of the most captivating snorkelling spots in Tassie, featuring numerous shipwrecks.

Onwards to Swansea

The drive north from Triabunna to Swansea takes around 40 minutes, and is characterised by superb views of Great Oyster Bay and Maria Island. Factor in some extra time to stop and take photos along this stretch of the road, or to take side trips to visit local beaches at Little Swanport, lovely Mayfield Bay and Nine Mile Beach. Just before Swansea is the entrance to Kate's Berry Farm where you can sample strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and youngberries, not to mention lunch and mouth-watering ice-cream. If you're staying overnight in Coles Bay, continue on the Tasman highway then take the well-signed turn-off to Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park.

Tourism Tasmania and Andrew Wilson

Wine country

You’ll find some of the best vineyards of the East Coast Wine Route between Swansea and Bicheno. Visit cellar doors at Milton Vineyard, Gala Estate, Spring Vale Wines (which also has a fantastic pop-up seafood restaurant), Devil’s Corner and Freycinet Vineyard.

Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett

Coles Bay & Freycinet National Park

The Freycinet Marine Farm is well worth a stopover, situated 10 minutes out of Coles Bay. Here you’ll enjoy a casual seafood lunch with shellfish, including abalone, plucked straight from the water. The surrounding coastlines are nothing short of spectacular! Secluded bays emerge unexpectedly and present perfect opportunities for various water activities. Voted one of the 10 best beaches in the world, the picture-perfect Wineglass Bay simply has to be seen to be believed. It’s a curved stretch of shimmering, turquoise water and pearly white sand flanked by mountainous terrain.

Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett

In addition to the celebrated fishing at Great Oyster Bay—one of the best in-shore fisheries in all of Australia—you can participate in exhilarating water sports. If the conditions are right, take a kayak out on the open water and bask in the sunshine and cool ocean breeze. The beaches are also ideal for surfing and windsurfing, or simply for lying back, getting some sun and taking a cool dip among the waves.

Tourism Tasmania & Geoffrey Lea

Bicheno

Depart Coles Bay for Bicheno, which is just a half-hour leg. This part of the coast is a hub for wildlife experiences. Apart from the native wildlife you’re bound to see as you walk in the region’s national parks and cruise the coastline, there are some great wildlife experiences around Bicheno. The East Coast Natureworld is home to an abundance of wildlife, including birds, animals, reptiles, and mammals in their natural habitat. Walk in to a nature’s oasis, beautifully maintained to keep these wild animals and birds in a sustainable environment. A great opportunity to see a Tassie Devil up close!

Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett

Bicheno to St Helens

The coastline between Bicheno and Scamander (a 45-minute drive) is known as the Surf Coast and the beaches here offer surfers reliable swells year round, with crystal clear waves rolling into smooth white sand just about everywhere you look. You’ll find surf shops in towns all along this stretch of coast where you can buy or hire gear and acquire some local knowledge on where to find the best breaks.

Tourism Tasmania & Brendan Williams

A little bit further north you’ll find St Helens, situated at the southern end of the remarkable Bay of Fires. Recently named the best destination on earth by Lonely Planet, the Bay is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, orange lichen-covered granite boulders and popular deep-sea fishing spots.

Join a guided snorkelling or diving tour and discover the kaleidoscopic array of aquatic life teeming beneath the surface, including reefs, corals, weedy sea dragons, boarfish and wandering rock lobsters. Then, walk from St Helens Point Conservation Area to Beer Barrel Beach and see the spectacular Peron Dunes. We definitely recommend spending a night or two here—there’s plenty of top camping spots located all along the coast.

Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett

Heading on holidays is an adventure in itself, yet when you’re behind the wheel with nothing but wide open road stretching into the distance and beautiful scenery either side, you’ve really got it made. You get to explore an extraordinary place at your leisure and have the opportunity to uncover unique spots along the way. So go on, take your wheels to Tassie’s east coast and experience highway heaven.

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